Joe7
New Member
Hello, I’m just looking for some advice.
I was sentenced for two drug driving offences at court on 19th March 2024.
There was cocaine and benzoylecgonine in my blood and it is an offence to drive with both of those drugs in your blood. I was only stopped once and both of these drugs were found in my blood sample when analysed by the laboratory.
Cocaine 13 micrograms (limit 10)
Benzoylecgonine 75 micrograms (limit 50)
However, because benzoylecgonine is a derivative breakdown product of cocaine, they should both be treated as one drug.
My solicitor explained this to the magistrates and therefore I was only disqualified for 16 months as a category 3 sentence. However, I received a letter from the court and they’ve reported both offences to the DVLA and it’s also showing the same on my online driving licence record.
Start date: 19 Mar 2024
End date: 18 Jul 2025
Conviction date: 19 Mar 2024
Removal date: 19 Mar 2035
Offence details: DG10: Driving or attempting to drive with drug level above the specified limit
Fine: £120.00
Period: 16 months
Start date: 19 Mar 2024
End date: 18 Jul 2025
Conviction date: 19 Mar 2024
Removal date: 19 Mar 2035
Offence details: DG10: Driving or attempting to drive with drug level above the specified limit
Fine: £120.00
Period: 16 months
Now is this normal? I’m scared that because it’s down as two disqualifications, this will trigger the HRO process with DVLA even though it’s the same single offence? It’s my first ever driving / criminal conviction.
I spoke with my solicitor and he said this is normal and the court will still convict you for both charges because it’s an offence to drive with both of those drugs in your blood but the court has only imposed one penalty for the cocaine. He said they didn’t impose a separate penalty for the benzoylecgonine.
Can I have some advice please, does this sound normal to you and will this trigger the HRO process with DVLA or will I just be treated as a normal licence renewal 56 days before the disqualification expiry date?
Thank you, any advice is much appreciated.
I was sentenced for two drug driving offences at court on 19th March 2024.
There was cocaine and benzoylecgonine in my blood and it is an offence to drive with both of those drugs in your blood. I was only stopped once and both of these drugs were found in my blood sample when analysed by the laboratory.
Cocaine 13 micrograms (limit 10)
Benzoylecgonine 75 micrograms (limit 50)
However, because benzoylecgonine is a derivative breakdown product of cocaine, they should both be treated as one drug.
My solicitor explained this to the magistrates and therefore I was only disqualified for 16 months as a category 3 sentence. However, I received a letter from the court and they’ve reported both offences to the DVLA and it’s also showing the same on my online driving licence record.
Start date: 19 Mar 2024
End date: 18 Jul 2025
Conviction date: 19 Mar 2024
Removal date: 19 Mar 2035
Offence details: DG10: Driving or attempting to drive with drug level above the specified limit
Fine: £120.00
Period: 16 months
Start date: 19 Mar 2024
End date: 18 Jul 2025
Conviction date: 19 Mar 2024
Removal date: 19 Mar 2035
Offence details: DG10: Driving or attempting to drive with drug level above the specified limit
Fine: £120.00
Period: 16 months
Now is this normal? I’m scared that because it’s down as two disqualifications, this will trigger the HRO process with DVLA even though it’s the same single offence? It’s my first ever driving / criminal conviction.
I spoke with my solicitor and he said this is normal and the court will still convict you for both charges because it’s an offence to drive with both of those drugs in your blood but the court has only imposed one penalty for the cocaine. He said they didn’t impose a separate penalty for the benzoylecgonine.
Can I have some advice please, does this sound normal to you and will this trigger the HRO process with DVLA or will I just be treated as a normal licence renewal 56 days before the disqualification expiry date?
Thank you, any advice is much appreciated.